Multi-video interface for a mobile device

BACKGROUND

0001The present invention relates to mobile devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-video interface for mobile devices.

0002Many mobile devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and handheld video games, include an attached or embedded display to present visual information and/or a memory unit to store data or images. Typically, because the mobile devices are of compact size, the display and memory unit are also constrained in size.

0003Still images or moving images (e.g., video) can be viewed or stored at a display or memory unit, respectively, of a mobile device. Unfortunately, due to the large data size of quality digital images/video, even compressed digital images/video, the amount of images/video that can be stored at the mobile device is limited. Presently to store or record any significant amount of images/video, an additional (e.g., external) memory or storage unit is required, such as a videotape.

0004Also, a user may wish to view information provided by the mobile device at a display other than the display native to the mobile device. The alternate display may be desirable because this display has a larger viewing size, is of a higher resolution or quality (e.g., color display rather than a monochrome display), or perhaps to view the information simultaneously on more than one display. Unfortunately, present mobile devices are not capable of, among others, providing multiple display outputs.

0005Thus, there is a need for a mobile device capable of multiple display inputs/outputs. There is a further need for the multiple display inputs/outputs of the mobile device to be able to facilitate presentation and storage of images or video.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0006The exemplary embodiments will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, in which:

0007<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of one embodiment of a mobile device.

0008Sizes of components are not drawn to scale, and various components may be enlarged or reduced to improve drawing legibility. Component details have been abstracted in the Figures to exclude details such as position of components and certain precise connections between such components when such details are unnecessary to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0009In one embodiment, images/video from a mobile device can be displayed and/or stored at one or more external displays or storage units. Such images/video can also be displayed and/or stored simultaneously at a display or storage unit embedded in the mobile device. The external display(s) and storage unit(s) can be televisions, video cassette recorders (VCRs), video tape recorders (VTRs), etc.

0010In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a block diagram of one embodiment of a mobile device <b>100</b> is shown.

0011The mobile device <b>100</b> is configured to be a portable device that provides visual information and one or more of a variety of other functions such as image/video capture, wireless communication, etc. The mobile device <b>100</b> may be, but is not limited to, a cellular phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), video game console, digital camera, digital camcorder, computing device, or wireless communication device.

0012The mobile device <b>100</b> includes a display interface <b>102</b>, a display <b>104</b>, an image/video processing unit <b>106</b>, a camera <b>108</b>, an audio processing unit <b>110</b>, a microphone <b>112</b>, a speaker <b>114</b>, a baseband processing unit <b>116</b>, and a transceiver <b>118</b>. The display interface <b>102</b> is coupled between the display <b>104</b> and the image/video processing unit <b>106</b>. The camera <b>108</b> is coupled to the image/video processing unit <b>106</b>. Each of the microphone <b>112</b> and the speaker <b>114</b> is coupled to the audio processing unit <b>110</b>. The transceiver <b>118</b> is coupled to the baseband processing unit <b>116</b>. The processing units <b>106</b>, <b>110</b>, and <b>116</b> and the display interface <b>102</b> are in communication with each other.

0013The display interface <b>102</b> is configured to format and route still and/or moving images (hereinafter referred to as images and videos, respectively) to and from the display <b>104</b>, the image/video processing unit <b>106</b>, the baseband processing unit <b>116</b>, an external display <b>120</b>, and an external storage unit <b>122</b>. The display interface <b>102</b> configures the images/video for transport, storage, or display. The output signals from the display interface <b>102</b> to each of the external display <b>120</b> and storage unit <b>122</b> can be analog or digital signals. The output signals can also be composite or component signals. Composite signals are communicated in a single signal line, as they contain all signal components except power and ground. Component signals are communicated in more than one signal line, as all signal components cannot be provided in any single signal line. The display interface <b>102</b> is discussed in greater detail below.

0014The display <b>104</b> is configured to present visual information provided by the display interface <b>102</b>. The display <b>104</b> is attached, embedded, or otherwise native to the mobile device <b>100</b>. The display <b>104</b> can be a variety of display types suitable for mobile devices, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or touch screen. The display <b>104</b> may be a monochrome or color display.

0015The camera <b>108</b> is configured to capture images/video of an object of interest. The camera <b>108</b> may be, for example, a semiconductor sensor array. Captured images/video are transmitted to the processing units <b>106</b> and <b>110</b>.

0016The microphone <b>112</b> is configured to capture audio signals. The microphone <b>112</b> may be embedded in the mobile device <b>100</b> or be a detachable unit. The captured audio signals are then transmitted to the processing unit <b>110</b>. The speaker <b>114</b> is configured to broadcast or project audio sounds to the environment. The audio signals corresponding to the audio sounds to be projected are provided by the processing unit <b>110</b>.

0017The transceiver <b>118</b> is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals to and from another wireless transceiver (not shown). The wireless signals can comprise a variety of data, including data representative of images/video, sound, and/or data. The transceiver <b>118</b> and the processing unit <b>116</b> condition signals for wireless transmission (e.g., configuring data on a carrier frequency, configuring control channels, etc.) and reassemble received wireless signals. At least one of the transceiver <b>118</b> and the processing unit <b>116</b> may include a memory, controller, processor, router, switch, bus, etc. to perform the wireless communication functions. In one embodiment, the transceiver <b>118</b> may comprise an antenna and the processing unit <b>116</b> may provide all other functionalities.

0018The processing unit <b>106</b> is configured to process image/video signals received or transmitted by the mobile device <b>100</b>. Image/video signals (also referred to as input signals) can be received from each of the display <b>104</b> (e.g., as a touch screen), camera <b>108</b>, transceiver <b>118</b>, external display <b>120</b>, and external storage unit <b>122</b>. Depending on the form of the input signals and their destination, the processing unit <b>106</b> performs one or more functions. For example, if input signals are coming from the camera <b>108</b> and such input signals are to be stored within the mobile device <b>100</b>, then the processing unit <b>106</b> compresses the input signals (using image compression schemes such as JPEG, M-JPEG, or MPEG) to reduce the data size and routes the compressed input signals to a memory included in the mobile device. In another example, if input signals are coming from the transceiver <b>118</b> and such input signals are to be displayed at the display <b>104</b>, then the processing unit <b>106</b> decompresses the input signals, transmits the decompressed input signals to the display interface <b>102</b>, the decompressed input signals are conditioned into signals compatible with the display <b>104</b>, and are transmitted to the display <b>104</b> for presentation. Accordingly, the processing unit <b>106</b> can include one or more image/video encoders and decoders, memory, processor, microcontroller, buffer, and routers.

0019The processing unit <b>110</b> is configured to process audio signals received or transmitted from the mobile device <b>100</b>. The audio signals can be received from each of the camera <b>108</b>, microphone <b>112</b>, transceiver <b>118</b>, external display <b>120</b>, and external storage unit <b>122</b>. The audio signals can be transmitted to each of the display <b>104</b>, speaker <b>114</b>, transceiver <b>118</b>, external display <b>120</b>, and external storage unit <b>122</b>. The audio signals may be provided as part of the image/video signals. The processing unit <b>110</b> appropriately conditions the audio signals depending on their state and destination. The processing unit <b>110</b> can include audio compression/decompression components or algorithms (e.g., MP3 compression), processors, microcontrollers, filters, and/or memory.

0020The processing units <b>106</b> and <b>110</b> are in communication or work in conjunction with each other to handle the image/video and/or audio signals received, routed, or transmitted by the mobile device <b>100</b>. It is contemplated that the processing units <b>106</b> and <b>110</b> may be embodied as a single component.

0021The components of the mobile device <b>100</b> may be embodied as hardware, firmware, and/or software. For example, the camera <b>108</b> may comprise a sensor chip, the processing units <b>106</b> and <b>110</b> and the display interface <b>102</b> may comprise another chip, and the processing unit <b>116</b> and the transceiver <b>118</b> may comprise yet another chip. Alternatively, the functionalities of two or more chips may be embodied in a single chip such as a system-on-chip (SOC). It should also be understood that one or more components illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> may be omitted depending on the mobile device <b>100</b>. For instance, if the mobile device <b>100</b> has no wireless communication capabilities, the transceiver <b>118</b> and the processing unit <b>116</b> would not be included. Alternatively, if the mobile device <b>100</b> is used primarily for capturing images/video, then more than one memory unit, or a detachable or swappable memory unit(s), may be native to the mobile device.

0022The external display <b>120</b> and the external storage unit <b>122</b> are not embedded or native to the mobile device <b>100</b>. Although each of the external display <b>120</b> and the external storage unit <b>122</b> can be coupled to the mobile device <b>100</b>, the coupling is accomplished for purposes of transmitting image/video and/or audio signals. The external display <b>120</b> and the external storage unit <b>122</b> are typically too large and cumbersome to be portable or to be moved around with the mobile device <b>100</b>.

0023The external display <b>120</b>, e.g., a television, monitor, or other display type, receives and/or transmits image/video signals with the display interface <b>102</b>. The external display <b>120</b> can include an S-video in port and the display interface <b>102</b> can include a corresponding S-video out port. Same or different images/video can be simultaneously viewed at the display <b>104</b> and the external display <b>120</b>. The external display <b>120</b> may be one or more displays. The external display <b>120</b> can be a large screen TV, a plasma display, an LCD, a rear projection display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, or a variety of other display types or sizes compatible with conventional video format, such as NTSC, PAL, or digital video formats.

0024Moreover, the external storage unit <b>122</b>, e.g., a video tape recorder (VTR), a video cassette recorder (VCR), a recordable DVD player, etc., can also receive or transmit image/video signals with the display interface <b>102</b>. Hence, image/video from the mobile device <b>100</b> can be stored at the external storage unit <b>122</b>, or stored images/video from the external storage unit <b>122</b> can be displayed or wirelessly transmitted at the mobile device <b>100</b>. The display interface <b>102</b> is configured to allow same or different images/video to be stored simultaneously at the mobile device <b>100</b> and the external storage unit <b>122</b>, or same or different images/video to be simultaneously displayed at the external display <b>120</b> and the display <b>104</b>. The external storage unit <b>122</b> may be one or more storage units.

0025It is also contemplated that a user may select between storing and/or viewing information at the external display <b>120</b> and/or external storage unit <b>122</b> only, even though the information origination occurs from the mobile device <b>100</b>.

0026The display interface <b>102</b> is a multiple display interface or a multi-video interface and is adapted to convert the images and/or motion video produced by the image/video processing unit <b>106</b> into one of any of a variety of output formats, such as NTSC, PAL, or digital video.

0027In this manner, a system and method-for viewing information from a mobile device at more than one display, even a display not attached or embedded to the mobile device, is disclosed herein. A display interface is configured to permit images/video captured, received, or otherwise present at the mobile device to be outputted to a variety of devices not native to the mobile device, in a format compatible with standard TVs, monitors, VCRs, and other entertainment devices. Thus, images/video can be more readily viewed at higher resolution and viewing size, as well as being able to store large amounts of images/video.

0028Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portion of this application. When the claims use the words “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.

0029From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.